She got to work early the next morning. It was later than she thought it would be when she got home so she didn't bother calling Lucas to tell him what went on. She knows he is going to give her a ration about that. She started the coffee and opened the till and headed back to the kitchen to start baking. She could see Sal tending to the trash and her heart ached.
"I have to find a way to help him." she said to herself as she watched him disappear out the back door. "He doesn't deserve this." Everyone slowly started making their way into work and customers followed suit.
"Thanks for the phone call, Victoria." Lucas yelled from the back door as he came in. "I assume you were out too late with Mr. Weasel?" He said in a short tone.
She knew that he would be upset so his tone and irritation comes as no surprise.
"Yes, it was later than what I had intended but not anything overnight, if that's what you are suggesting. You know me better than that." Victoria said cutting her eyes at him as she kneaded the dough on the table.
A few hours later, the took their lunch break together and Victoria told Lucas about everything that happened and everything that was said as well as describing Brad's large penthouse apartment.
"It wasn't really anything to speak of, Lucas. Light conversation about this and that. The wine and dinner was the best part actually." She went on.
She told of him of how he squirmed when she talked abut Sal and how she thinks she got to the motive for the "date" in the first place. Then she told him he tried to kiss her.
“He must have you mistaken for one of his “easier” dates.” Lucas smirked. “Which just goes to show you that he doesn’t know you at all.”
"What should I do if he asks me out again, Lucas? Should I go or should I decline?" Victoria asked as she took a drink of her milkshake.
"I think you should absolutely go, Vic. Show him that you're not afraid. You obviously have him wrapped, pump him for some more info." Lucas said smiling.
Victoria was shocked by Lucas's answer. She didn't expect him to tell her to go out with him again. I mean, after all, he thinks he is a jerk.
"I think you are going to have way too much fun with this Lucas Burrows." Victoria said.
As Victoria was sliding on her night shirt and getting ready to watch t.v. her phone rang.
"Hello?" Victoria asked, surprised that someone would be calling her. No one ever calls her at night past nine.
"How about a night cap at my place? I would hate to think of you there all by yourself. It must be so lonely." Brad said charmingly.
Victoria beamed when she heard his voice. Albeit high school-ish, she really is quite fond of him. Remembering what Lucas had said earlier that day, she happily obliged him.
"I just have to get dressed, are you going to come by my place? I'll give you the address if so." she said.
"Yes, I will be there shortly to get you." he said.
Victoria gave him her address and rushed to get ready. She watched him get out of his car and walk to the door. She hasn't ever seen him not wearing a suit. He had on jeans and a loose fitting white button up shirt. No tie, no suit, and no fancy shoes. She was even more attracted to him now than she ever was. He has a softness to him in casual clothes instead of a stuffy business suit. She watched him disappear under the overhang and turned off the t.v. preparing for his knock at the door. A few gentle taps on the door and she opened it up excitedly.
"Hello young lady." He said with a smile "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, I am. I was very surprised that you called me." she said as they walked out of the door.
They reached his apartment and she walked inside and greeted who she assumed is his butler. She handed him her purse and sat on a bar stool near the counter.
"So," Victoria said breaking the silence. "Why did you want me to join you tonight?" she asked Brad inquisitively.
"I couldn't get you off my mind," Brad said walking up to her. "All day at the office, here at home, driving in my car. You are all I think about and I couldn't wait to see you again."
He took her hand and kissed it. Hot flashes went through her body as his lips touched her skin. Internally, she's fighting against nature. She's attracted to him but can't allow herself to indulge on that feeling. She is keeping everything she learned from Sal as a focal point so her humanistic nature doesn't succeed. The only problem is, is that she doesn't know how long she can do that.
She smiled as she looked at the floor. She knew that if she made eye contact, she wouldn't be able to fight off these feelings of temptation.
"What is it about me that makes you like me so well? she asked. "I work all the time, I live alone, there's really nothing to me."
"That's where you're wrong, Victoria," he said as he sat next to her in a bar stool. "You're talented, beautiful, friendly, a hard worker, determined. You are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to your lemon custard bars." he laughed.
She laughed hard at that. He pulled the stool closer to her.
"You have a kind heart and a generous spirit," he said in almost a whisper as he got closer to her.
She was stuck with nowhere to go. Nowhere to look. Just stuck. Face to face with Brad and his impeccable smile and dreamy green eyes. His breath is heavy on her skin and she is losing this battle.
"Fight it, Victoria, don't give in, be strong, be stro-." she said to herself as he got closer
He leaned in and placed his soft lips to hers. He cupped her soft cheeks in his hands and passion filled the air that surrounded them. There's no fighting it now. There's nothing in her that would want to make this feeling go away no matter what she knows. She is surrounded by...him.
Breathless kisses were exchanged. He stood up and began to untuck his white button up and leaned in for more. For more of Victoria. She stood up and wrapped her arms around him.
He lifted her head and they kissed again. Victoria back up.
"Brad, I can't do this, I just can't," she said looking up at him, "I mean, I can that's not the thing, I so can do this, but I can't." she went on. "I want to be someone you respect. I don't want to be a fly by night girl who is only here to please your desires. I'm a better person than that and I think higher of myself than to let that happen." she said proudly.
Panting, he stepped back from her. "I get it, I do, but I want you so bad Vic, so bad." he said as he looked longingly at her. "But, this is another reason why I like you and yes, I respect you." he went on as he ran his fingers through his hair. "You know your limits and you stand behind them."
"Yes," Victoria said, "So if this is all you wanted for tonight, then I apologize, I am just not that kind of girl. I won't be offended if you want to take me home." she went on.